treehousegang | open to EVERYONE, even those he hasn't met yet

open to EVERYONE, even those he hasn't met yet

[ baein has been busy the past weeks, cooping himself up in his little cottage when he hasn't been to the treehouse to welcome the new life into the world along with everyone else. and he already left something behind for the little one, but the truth of it all is that's not the only gift he's been preparing.

it feels like it's the only thing he can do.

christmas isn't really something he ever celebrated back when he was still just baein, stuck going to a university for a degree he didn't care for. when jasper and princess were the only bright things in his life, and thinking back on that time now it feels so long ago and a little faded, if not a memory with his boyfriend in it. now... now jasper is there, but also not, and baein is so melded with the forest he never quite feels alone in a sense of the word. (until he does feel a little lonely sometimes.)

the ruinwood is his home. and it's made him part of it in a way he'd never anticipate in his life. and yet, it still doesn't feel like it's finished with him.

back to the present, it is yuletide, christmas, or more importantly now than ever, it's the time around the winter solstice, and baein emerges from his hidey-hole with a bundle of soft things in his arms, heading for the treehouse. (maybe it's also to steal a hug from someone. what? he's touch starved half the time he's alive and he just wants a cuddle please and thank you.)

this time around, he knocks on the door with his elbow instead of walking right in, hands too occupied trying to balance the load in his arms. ]

Whoouups—

[ he stumbles slightly with wide eyes before righting himself, and then calls out. ]

Knock knock~!

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[ taken off guard by the gesture, baein's lips part in surprise, eyes wide as he gets to his feet after taking koa's hand. ]

You what? You didn't have to do that...

Ran you a bath.

[ he repeats, then adds: ]

I put in some of those little flowers cause they smell nice.

[ instead of letting him go, he just pulls him out of the room and into the bathroom to show him. ]

[ baein pretty much obediently follows as koa leads him, and he's not sure what to think, other than feel the warmth spread in his chest cavity. he's so used to doing things for others, so whenever someone returns the gesture, baein feels a little lost, unsure how to balance the warmth in his chest before it spills over. the same happens with daeshim as well.

he can't help the small smile on his lips at the sight, and baein breathes out before he looks to the fox, smile going lopsided. ]

Koa... thank you.

[ he nods and gives a half shrug; not used to people thanking him for anything, really. Honestly, people being nice to him at all is pretty foreign. But Daeshim and Baein have been nice to him from the start with no reason to be.

He gently squeezes the others hand and then pulls it away to cross his arms loosely over his chest. ]

Now get naked.

[ baein can't stop the laugh that slips out, and he raises an eyebrow, smile widening. the tips of his ears are a little pink, but he seems to be in good spirits, humored. ]

Oh, right in front of you?

Well, I have to make sure you get in safely!

[ he pouts and glances away; and maybe he’s blushing a little. ]

I won’t look…just get in and once I know you haven’t cracked your head open on accident, I’ll go.

Oh, is that so? What a diligent fox you are. I'll try not to slip on anything, I promise.

[ baein laughs again, but sure, he's not actually embarrassed about getting naked in front of anyone, so he goes to strip as he speaks. it doesn't take long before he carefully steps into the bathtub and does just fine in sitting down. ]

There, done. You can look now.

[ he leans his arms on the edge, resting his head on them as he looks up at the fox, expression soft, suddenly feeling a tad more vulnerable than usual, though he pushes that away and clears his throat. ]

Thank you for looking out for me.

Mm…okay.

[ Koa notes some of the reflective surfaces and tries to ignore them because…well, he isn’t sure why. It’s not like people being naked bothers him. But, for some reason he doesn’t want to…make Baein uncomfortable or something.

His ear cocks at the sound of the water swishing around, but he doesn’t look until Baein gives him permission. And his tail almost immediately starts to swish. He huffs softly. Why does he have to look so cute like that?! ]

You’re important.

[ he clears his throat. ]

To the Ruinwood, and Daeshim…_{and me}.

[ don't think he doesn't notice your careful demeanor, koa. it's cute, and baein's shoulders sag as he relaxes further into the bath, eyes following the movement of koa's tail and ears. he doesn't know why, but all he wants to do is smile. ]

You're important too—

[ his words get lost as he inhales softly when koa continues, and baein wets his lips first before he presses them together in an attempt to stifle his smile, though it's not particularly successful. oh. oh. there's a flush on his cheeks and he reaches up to rub at his nose. ]

I... I'm glad.

[ good. Good.

He watches Baein’s lips curve up in that adorable little smile he usually has and he worries his own bottom lip as he watches him a little longer than he’d intended.

Right. He just wanted to make sure he didn’t die or something. Right.

Reaching into the cabinet he grabs one of the fluffy towels and brings it over to hang it on the hook beside the bath. ]

…do you want a bedtime tea or something?

[ he planned on making it anyway, but if he asks before hand maybe it won’t look as…um…whatever. ]

[ the suggestion adds another layer to the soft bewilderment that rushes through baein and he opens his mouth to protest because it feels like too much? koa already ran a bath and— but then he shuts it again and swallows before he nods as he tries to find his voice, facial expression probably rivaling a marshmallow in it's softness. ]

...that would be lovely. Thank you. Again.

[ Koa nods once and briefly looks the other over before deciding he should go before he plants himself on the bath rug.

Closing the door behind him, he wanders into the kitchen and sets the kettle on to boil while he sifts through a few of the herbal teas. At this point he’s made himself enough at home that he knows where all of the important things are and where things belong.

Tea is simple.

He likes that it’s more quiet here in Baein’s cottage. Some of the others are really noisy. And Baein feels like the forest which is why he likes to spend his nights here. Every night. Usually in fox form but if Baein doesn’t mind him having hands…then maybe he’ll do this more often. ]

[ baein wouldn't mind koa in whatever shape or form he wishes, and he will always keep the door open to the fox, as he does to anyone else. but... the night time company is new because nowadays, baein is alone more often than not when he's in his own space, and while he enjoys the quiet... well. he prefers the silence to be filled with the presence of someone else. and he has never felt compelled or fair to demand this of anyone at the treehouse. it's as simple as that.

taking his time, baein sinks back into the bath at first, letting the warm and floral water seep into his senses to a point where he almost dozes off. it's only been a few moments when he starts washing up though, finishing quickly mostly to not keep koa wait for him too long.

toweling his hair, he steps into the kitchen, already donned in a soft hoodie and boxers, and sniffs the air. ]

Ah... I like this one.

[ Koa smiles softly and lightly stirs the cup of tea before he looks over and takes in the sight of the other.

Cute. From the top of his wet head to his toes - cute.

He gently slides the cup over and makes himself one, too. Cup in hand he wanders over and sniffs Baein briefly. ]

Me too.

[ With that he moves around him and heads for the bedroom, sipping his tea, tail swishing idly. ]

Hm?

[ accepting the cup, baein raises both eyebrows as he waits for an explanation even as the fox moves on. that didn't sound like he meant just the tea, but baein isn't sure. when he doesn't get one, the blonde follows koa, expression caught in half a smile and half a frown. ]

The tea, or something else?

You’re one of my new favorite smells.

[ no sense in denying it now.

He moves to the side of the bed he usually ends up curled up on as a fox and sits down with his tea. He watches Baein as he comes in and he smirks softly. ]

The tea is good, too, though.

My... smell?

[ he comes to a halt at the foot of the bed, at loss for words for a second, and also feeling a sense of comfort of seeing another person there, someone he treasures, taking up space on a bed baein sometimes feels is a little too large for just one. he takes a sip of his own mug, eyes crinkling at the corners. ]

It's one of my favorite teas. You chose well.

[ he moves over to perch on the bed beside the fox, amusement shining in his expression. ]

What do I smell like?

[ Koa squints a little and licks his bottom lip. The tea really is good.

But he watches Baein’s face, his own features softening a little before he looks down into his cup again. ]

The first flowers in spring, strawberry pie and fresh sheets.

[ he tries to shrug it off and just sips at his tea again. ]

[ it's unexpected, the way baein's heart skips a beat and his face floods with warmth at the compliment. because that's what it is, it feels like a compliment, and he can't even stop the feeling that he's flustering. which technically shouldn't be much of a deal, not over a compliment, but koa is so sincere and shy about it and baein has to hide his expression behind his own cup before he's gained a semblance of composure again. he did ask, after all.

he takes a sip of his tea in lieu of an immediate answer, and then he lets out an audible exhale, a soft noise with a bit of wonder. ]

And you smell like forest, comfort, with a hint of cherries and... chocolate.

[ Koa wasn’t expecting anything in return but when it comes it surprises him enough that he looks over and just blurts: ]

Are you trying to make me kiss you?! Oh—-

[ oops… ]

Ah?

[ baein blinks at him, lips parting in surprise, though it somehow also doesn't feel all that surprising in the grand scale of things. and then his expression softens, gentle and open as he studies the fox. ]

You want to kiss me?

[ the tips of his ears are almost burning, but he chooses to ignore it. ]

Edited 2023-01-22 00:47 (UTC)

Someone would have to be an idiot to not want to kiss you.

[ which is to say yes. ]

You’re bright and glowy and the forest loves you and you smell nice and you’re warm and you——

[ he looks into his tea suspiciously. Did he put something weird in this?]

[ oh, something in that sentence has baein's throat tighten a bit and he swallows to abate it, wets his lips, opens his mouth, and then closes it. it's not that he thinks that koa is lying, far from it, but it still makes something curl in his chest and baein isn't sure if it's happy or sad or a mix of both. probably both. which is odd and baein isn't sure what he can attribute it to.

besides being low key confessed to, he supposes. ]

I'm really not all of those things, but... I try to be. It makes me really happy you think I am.

[ baein clears his throat as he takes another sip of tea, though he's smiling again. ]

You're cute, and so incredibly kind. More than what I deserve, probably.

You’re exactly all of those things.

Koa...

[ baein bumps his shoulder into the fox's gently. ]

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